The Job Journal

The Job Journal Ok, so we can finally, officially announce the newest feature The Job Journal. I introduced it last week, screen shots and all. Liz Handlin was so excited about it she blogged about it again and plugged it in the weekly Thom Singer podcast! We released this on Saturday (ahem, a couple of days early thank-you-very-much :)) so here is the final announcement on this blog. Only premium members will be able to see the Job Journal (aka, Job Diary). Mouse over the Tools menu option and find Job Journal click on that. Click on the link to add a new journal record. Fill out the form this is all the general, quantifiable information about your achievement. You can fill out the description box and call it good, or you can click on the Problem/Action/Results checkbox and split the description up. Like I said, you can just use the description box, but to be in the zone you might want to consider this as a problem/action/results presentation (thanks to Kent Blumberg for that suggestion). Heres mine (in case you cant read it above): Problem: Career coaches tell us we need to track important things in our jobs, which will help us understand our brand, prepare a resume, and have stuff for interviews. Its really hard to track all of this, though, and really, who has a physical folder they keep for this and who really keeps this in a word document? Action: I gathered information from various coach/resume partners who had input on the job journal, and how it should work, and specd it for Rene/Liz. Worked with them to get the project done, looking nice, and functioning. Blogged about it. Results Achieved: Increased the scope of JibberJobber more into the career management space with a new feature that is totally outside of the job search job seeker mode. When you are done you can see the results of your entries in this format: This is cool for various reasons. The most important, in my mind, is that it integrates with all of your other career management stuff. There is ONE place to manage your elevator pitches, your journal entries, your target companies, your network contacts, your career documents (resumes, cover letters, reference letters, etc.) the list goes on and on! Heres some miscellanous reading on job journal thoughts: Addled Accentuated by ADD in Academia talks about a different kind of job journal that is, chronicling a job search. Ive already blogged about my thoughts on that approach, but it looks like a good thing since its anonymous. Just note that Addled is doing something completely different than what Im talking about here. The Painting Master has a job diary again, something completely different than what we developed for you at JibberJobber. The Police Job Diary is a My story of applications, forms and interviews for trying to get a job in the British Police. again, not the same thing. Heres another job journal by someone from the Mathematical Association of America. Thoughts on a job search that was published in 93/94. Its like a blog before there were blogs. Again, not the same thing. This Job diary is a project management ticket system for software not the same thing! And here are the things I found that actually support the JibberJobber job journal: Ramon Padilla writes Keeping your journal up to date? on the popular Tech Republic blog from CNET. This is a great article, even though it went up over a year ago. Liz Handlin, CEO of Ultimate Resumes, has thought about this before heres an article she wrote for JobsInStockton.com. Carol Anne Carroll writes about a job journal and says to not only log your accomplishments, but also promises made by your boss (!) I didnt think about that. This is a really good, short article. The New Zealand Ministry of Social Development suggests you keep a job diary and even links to their cute little pdf that you can download. Interesting, I didnt find anything on the job journal from Monster or CareerBuilder. So there you go, perhaps the most comprehensive post on a new feature release weve ever done Now, time to get back to work! The Job Journal Ok, so we can finally, officially announce the newest feature The Job Journal. I introduced it last week, screen shots and all. Liz Handlin was so excited about it she blogged about it again and plugged it in the weekly Thom Singer podcast! We released this on Saturday (ahem, a couple of days early thank-you-very-much :)) so here is the final announcement on this blog. Only premium members will be able to see the Job Journal (aka, Job Diary). Mouse over the Tools menu option and find Job Journal click on that. Click on the link to add a new journal record. Fill out the form this is all the general, quantifiable information about your achievement. You can fill out the description box and call it good, or you can click on the Problem/Action/Results checkbox and split the description up. Like I said, you can just use the description box, but to be in the zone you might want to consider this as a problem/action/results presentation (thanks to Kent Blumberg for that suggestion). Heres mine (in case you cant read it above): Problem: Career coaches tell us we need to track important things in our jobs, which will help us understand our brand, prepare a resume, and have stuff for interviews. Its really hard to track all of this, though, and really, who has a physical folder they keep for this and who really keeps this in a word document? Action: I gathered information from various coach/resume partners who had input on the job journal, and how it should work, and specd it for Rene/Liz. Worked with them to get the project done, looking nice, and functioning. Blogged about it. Results Achieved: Increased the scope of JibberJobber more into the career management space with a new feature that is totally outside of the job search job seeker mode. When you are done you can see the results of your entries in this format: This is cool for various reasons. The most important, in my mind, is that it integrates with all of your other career management stuff. There is ONE place to manage your elevator pitches, your journal entries, your target companies, your network contacts, your career documents (resumes, cover letters, reference letters, etc.) the list goes on and on! Heres some miscellanous reading on job journal thoughts: Addled Accentuated by ADD in Academia talks about a different kind of job journal that is, chronicling a job search. Ive already blogged about my thoughts on that approach, but it looks like a good thing since its anonymous. Just note that Addled is doing something completely different than what Im talking about here. The Painting Master has a job diary again, something completely different than what we developed for you at JibberJobber. The Police Job Diary is a My story of applications, forms and interviews for trying to get a job in the British Police. again, not the same thing. Heres another job journal by someone from the Mathematical Association of America. Thoughts on a job search that was published in 93/94. Its like a blog before there were blogs. Again, not the same thing. This Job diary is a project management ticket system for software not the same thing! And here are the things I found that actually support the JibberJobber job journal: Ramon Padilla writes Keeping your journal up to date? on the popular Tech Republic blog from CNET. This is a great article, even though it went up over a year ago. Liz Handlin, CEO of Ultimate Resumes, has thought about this before heres an article she wrote for JobsInStockton.com. Carol Anne Carroll writes about a job journal and says to not only log your accomplishments, but also promises made by your boss (!) I didnt think about that. This is a really good, short article. The New Zealand Ministry of Social Development suggests you keep a job diary and even links to their cute little pdf that you can download. Interesting, I didnt find anything on the job journal from Monster or CareerBuilder. So there you go, perhaps the most comprehensive post on a new feature release weve ever done Now, time to get back to work! The Job Journal Ok, so we can finally, officially announce the newest feature The Job Journal. I introduced it last week, screen shots and all. Liz Handlin was so excited about it she blogged about it again and plugged it in the weekly Thom Singer podcast! We released this on Saturday (ahem, a couple of days early thank-you-very-much :)) so here is the final announcement on this blog. Only premium members will be able to see the Job Journal (aka, Job Diary). Mouse over the Tools menu option and find Job Journal click on that. Click on the link to add a new journal record. Fill out the form this is all the general, quantifiable information about your achievement. You can fill out the description box and call it good, or you can click on the Problem/Action/Results checkbox and split the description up. Like I said, you can just use the description box, but to be in the zone you might want to consider this as a problem/action/results presentation (thanks to Kent Blumberg for that suggestion). Heres mine (in case you cant read it above): Problem: Career coaches tell us we need to track important things in our jobs, which will help us understand our brand, prepare a resume, and have stuff for interviews. Its really hard to track all of this, though, and really, who has a physical folder they keep for this and who really keeps this in a word document? Action: I gathered information from various coach/resume partners who had input on the job journal, and how it should work, and specd it for Rene/Liz. Worked with them to get the project done, looking nice, and functioning. Blogged about it. Results Achieved: Increased the scope of JibberJobber more into the career management space with a new feature that is totally outside of the job search job seeker mode. When you are done you can see the results of your entries in this format: This is cool for various reasons. The most important, in my mind, is that it integrates with all of your other career management stuff. There is ONE place to manage your elevator pitches, your journal entries, your target companies, your network contacts, your career documents (resumes, cover letters, reference letters, etc.) the list goes on and on! Heres some miscellanous reading on job journal thoughts: Addled Accentuated by ADD in Academia talks about a different kind of job journal that is, chronicling a job search. Ive already blogged about my thoughts on that approach, but it looks like a good thing since its anonymous. Just note that Addled is doing something completely different than what Im talking about here. The Painting Master has a job diary again, something completely different than what we developed for you at JibberJobber. The Police Job Diary is a My story of applications, forms and interviews for trying to get a job in the British Police. again, not the same thing. Heres another job journal by someone from the Mathematical Association of America. Thoughts on a job search that was published in 93/94. Its like a blog before there were blogs. Again, not the same thing. This Job diary is a project management ticket system for software not the same thing! And here are the things I found that actually support the JibberJobber job journal: Ramon Padilla writes Keeping your journal up to date? on the popular Tech Republic blog from CNET. This is a great article, even though it went up over a year ago. Liz Handlin, CEO of Ultimate Resumes, has thought about this before heres an article she wrote for JobsInStockton.com. Carol Anne Carroll writes about a job journal and says to not only log your accomplishments, but also promises made by your boss (!) I didnt think about that. This is a really good, short article. The New Zealand Ministry of Social Development suggests you keep a job diary and even links to their cute little pdf that you can download. Interesting, I didnt find anything on the job journal from Monster or CareerBuilder. So there you go, perhaps the most comprehensive post on a new feature release weve ever done Now, time to get back to work!

Buy Resume Writing For Cheap And Get Your Dream Job

Buy Resume Writing For Cheap And Get Your Dream JobThere are numerous reasons why people will use cheap resume writing for the sole purpose of having a cheap and effective marketing campaign. They may be looking to hire someone that can write a great cover letter for them, and write in the language they speak.Resume writing for free has become quite popular over the past few years. For many it is all about using resume writing software to get the job you want more quickly and easier.The job market is tough right now and everyone wants to save time and money. The traditional way to save time and money is to have a team of professional writers and apply to jobs. This is not the only way to get hired, but it is one of the quickest ways to get noticed.But how do you get noticed without spending a fortune and using a team? This is a great question and is definitely one worth thinking about. Luckily there are ways to cut costs while still making a great impression.Some of the big names in the job market will provide you with resume samples for free. They will give you a cover letter for free as well. The best part is that the information you receive is easily transferable to a cover letter.Free resumes are often sent to the same jobs over again. All of the information in these resumes is updated and valuable. These free samples are not limited to your area, so if you live in Washington you can choose to be in their database.When you have a few resume samples it is easy to see what other people are doing and start to copy editing. You can customize your resume to your level of experience and skills. You can easily work with your placement teamto create the perfect resume and cover letter for you.Now, when you make the decision to use professional services for your resume writing you will be able to make the most out of your money. The service provider can write a great cover letter as well. With a little forethought and planning you can do it yourself without breaking the bank.

Does Fat Make You Fat

Does Fat Make You Fat By, Michelle Pfennighaus Imagine it. Youre watching Friends on prime time and wearing Doc Martins, Snapple iced tea in hand. In front of you is a box of fat free Snackwells cookies. Ah, the 90s.It made perfect sense. We were all going to get fat unless we stopped eating foods that contained fat! Perfect logic. The fat free craze didnt begin in the 90s though. For decades, scientists were warning of the dangers of fats. Saturated fat was deemed a killer, clogging the arteries and causing our pants to get tighter. Nevermind that for thousands of years indigenous cultures ate animal fat at nearly every meal and only in recent times has obesity become a problem and heart disease become a #1 killer. So we ate less fat. I did, anyway. Snackwells cookies were super, right? Eat all you want zero fat. The food industry had a field day, manipulating processed foods until they were marketable as Low or No Fat. And we bought them at a premium! We declared with glee, I Cant Believe its Not Butter! The century ended full of hope for trim waistlines and healthy hearts. Im sure I dont have to tell you what happened. It didnt work. We are fatter and sicker than ever before. Many of us, myself included, ended up with dry skin, constipation and a cold feeling in our bones. Our bodys need for fat manifested itself in magnificent cravings we satisfied at 3am with french fries and Ben Jerrys. Hey Science, what gives? Heres what happened. We replaced fats that were maybe unhealthy with darn near fatal fats (think hydrogenated trans fat in margarine) and plenty of sugar, fillers and chemicals. What brilliant ideas will we think of next? Id like to stop thinking of whats next and reflect for a moment on what has come before. For thousands of years, populations around the world have thrived on indigenous diets of all sorts. Meat-based, plant-based, or a combination of the two, they all included fat. It was not until processed food was introduced that we encountered the diseases of excess that plague us today. I encourage my clients to eat more foods that their great grandparents would recognize and fewer foods created by modern science and advertised by big business. Some of the ways oils are processed include adding hydrogen atoms or using chemical solvents. Does that sound like food you want to put in your body? Here are some newfangled fats to be skeptical of or downright avoid: 1. All hydrogenated oils, including margarine 2. Soy and corn oil 3. Peanut oil 4. Canola and Grapeseed oil Instead, seek out traditional, naturally occurring fats full of nutrients the human body needs. Always favor organic! 1. Butter and Ghee 2. Coconut and sesame oils 3. Olive oil 4. Flax and Fish oil 5. Chicken, goose and duck fat 6. Beef and lamb fat It has been an interesting shift to start eating fats again. After years of a No Fat mindset, it feels naughty to throw a pat of butter into my oatmeal. But good quality organic butter from grass-fed cows is exactly the kind of fat the body needs. When I started eating more butter and taking fish oil, my skin really showed a difference. Lines in my face actually went away! Another great benefit is that I started to really enjoy my food. Its no coincidence that fats taste good we are programmed to enjoy them because we need them! If you are worried about weight loss, look to the (highly refined) white flour products and (highly refined) sugar in your diet. Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions and founder of the Weston A. Price foundation, encourages us to use plenty of olive oil on our salads but skip the roll. And like my mom always says, Everything in moderation.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go 3 Ways To Know If Its Time To Quit

Should I Stay Or Should I Go 3 Ways To Know If Its Time To Quit If you’re like me in my search for a career, I went from job to job. Around the 6-month mark I began to get the itch for something new. Either it was an issue with management, boredom, or lack of pay. I was always striving for something else, and sometimes after I said, “I quit!” I regretted it.  Leaving a job should not be based on emotion since our feelings can’t be trusted. Just look at our past relationships. It’s best to stand back from the situation and evaluate the root of your issues. Not liking management is not a solid reason to leave the company. You’re not going to like everyone you work with and there’s no perfect scenario. You just have to get over it. With that said, here are 3 real reasons to say, “I quit!” You can see the company is failing. Most companies won’t come right out and say, “Hey guys, we’re closing our doors in about six months, so be prepared.” You’re going to have to pay attention to the signs of layoffs, lack of business, merging departments, extreme policy changes, upper-management playing musical chairs, etc. Usually when there’s a new CEO or new marketing guru, the company is making a last ditch effort to save the company. This is the time to lay your ground work to find other employment. You should be keeping track of major accomplishments to update your resume, making sure you get important contact information, review your contract upon hiring to see what severance package you’d receiving. Don’t jump ship right away! You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, so you never know if the company is merging and your job will survive. You can’t do anything about the company folding, but you can set yourself up for success in the transition. You’re miserable. I’m not referring to the above example of not liking management. I’m referring to you dreading to go to work and subjecting yourself to a hostile environment. It is one thing to not like your coworkers, and it’s completely another to work in a constant stressful situation and subject to unhealthy surroundings. Working in this environment has a mental and physical effect on your overall well being. There may be no work-life balance allowing you to have an outlet, especially if your home life has its own set of problems to deal with. In this case you will need to think long-term. Your salary is great, but what are you giving up in the process? Is it worth it? Look at your options. First, keep a paper trail (names, dates, saved emails, etc.) of every incident that contributes to the hostile environment. If management or your HR department has not taken proper action to assist you in remedying the situation, it’s time to quit or take legal action. You are not being utilized. We all start positions with high hopes and thoughts of project leadership opportunities, promotions, and truly making a difference. It doesn’t always end up that way. If you are not able to show what you have to offer complacency can easily set in. If you have made significant effort to gain more responsibilities, to lead a project or team, and to get promoted with no change, it’s time to move on. Lack of growth opportunities is a top reason for many to leave a company. You can stay simply for a paycheck, however, if you’re looking for a place to put down roots you should definitely look elsewhere. Finding a new job of quality is easier said than done, but is doable with the proper planning and tools. Do not allow complacency to set in where you don’t have the confidence to step out and find the place you belong with all the perks. Images: Main  jen collins   Cubicle  eflon

How to Choose the Right Resume Writing Services for Your Vision

How to Choose the Right Resume Writing Services for Your VisionWhen it comes to hiring vision consultants, choosing the right one is going to be crucial. It is important to choose the right people to help you because your vision is essential to the business, and if you do not hire the right people to help you with your vision, then you could end up falling short on what you need. Before you hire a consultant, there are some things that you need to consider.First of all, they need to understand that you want to hire someone who can work with you because your vision is the main reason why you hired them in the first place. So, if you think that you need someone who will help you with your vision, then you should definitely choose to use resume writing services that offer this service. Resume writing services are very different from vision consulting firms, and in order to help you with your vision, you need a firm that can help you communicate with them and make sure that you know exac tly what you need.If you are going to hire a consultant to help you with your vision, it is important to remember that you will need a consultant who will also work for you. In order to work for you, the consultant needs to work for you, and in doing so, they are able to help you with everything you need, including your vision. To hire the right consultant for your vision, you need to figure out what your vision is and how they will help you with it. You can either ask your vision consultant or you can use resume writing services to help you figure out your vision, but whichever way you go, the thing that you need to focus on is finding the right consultant.Once you have figured out exactly what your vision is, the next thing that you should consider is whether or not you are going to hire an experienced vision consultant. Because when you hire someone who has experience in vision consulting, they are going to be able to help you get your vision through without the help of a vision consultant. This is important because it gives you the advantage of getting your vision into your head without having to rely on any other person to help you with it.When you are hiring someone to help you with your vision, you want to make sure that they are going to do everything possible to make sure that you are fully aware of everything that they are trying to tell you. For example, if you want to know if you should take a loan, then you will want to hire someone who has experience working with loans so that you are completely aware of your options. It is important to make sure that you are going to be fully aware of what your vision is so that you are able to see what is needed to help you with your vision.After you have figured out exactly what your vision is, it is time to make sure that you are going to work with the right consultant. One way to make sure that you get the right consultant is to find out exactly what services they offer and how much they charge. There are a lot of people who can get your vision into your head, but if you are not going to hire the right consultant, then you are not going to be fully aware of what you are being told.Once you have figured out exactly what your vision is, and you have hired the right consultant, then you can start thinking about putting your vision into action. While doing this, you should make sure that you hire the right consultant to help you with your vision, and you should also make sure that you are going to make sure that your vision is communicated properly to everyone around you.Hiring the right consultant for your vision is important to the success of your vision, and this is the perfect time to make sure that you make the right choice. So, make sure that you hire the right consultant, and you will make sure that your vision gets communicated properly to everyone in your life.

Do You Need A Professional Resume Writing Service?

Do You Need A Professional Resume Writing Service?Many people hire a professional resume writing service because they are afraid that it may cost them more than it is worth. A professional writing service knows exactly how to go about creating a strong and impressive resume that will stand out from the rest. Read on to find out how you can get a professional resume written for you in a fraction of the time and cost that you would normally spend.One of the first things that a McKinsey resume writing service does is provide their clients with a customized template that they will customize to fit their needs. The templates will contain everything that is needed to properly format the cover letter and the resumes themselves. Every field is given its own page, so that the client is able to use that information later in the process. This is important because it saves you the time that it would take to re-type the information each time you get a new job or need to add on to an existing one. While a template will save you time and money, a custom template can be used in conjunction with all of the other parts of the package that will allow you to be able to get the information that you need when it comes to creating a personal resume that will stand out from the rest. One of the best parts of the package is that it gives you access to not only a professional resume writer, but also a career coach who will help you find the right job for you.When you are looking into getting a McKinsey resume writing service, you need to make sure that you know what to expect. You should look into whether or not the writing service is one that focuses more on one field or if they specialize in all areas.If you are looking to find a writing service that specializes in an area that is not your strong suit, make sure that you take the time to ask questions and see what kind of coaching you will receive from the career coach as well. You should be sure that you are able to talk to the coach and get an honest opinion on how much time the writing service will spend on the specific areas that you are concerned about.The package that you receive should include all of the details that are needed to create a customized resume that is in line with your client's needs. The package should also be one that will also provide a variety of different styles of resume as well as samples so that you can see what your chances of success are in different situations.When it comes to getting your resume written by a professional, you want to be sure that you are going to get the best professional that you can afford. After all, if you are getting your resume written by a writing service that charges hundreds of dollars per hour, then you know that it is going to be something that is top-notch and that you will stand out from the rest.In order to get a great experience when it comes to your resume writing service, you need to be sure that you are looking into hiring a McKinsey resume writi ng service to handle your writing for you. Once you have found the right writing service, you will be able to get a professionally written resume that will serve you well in any situation.

Capitalize On Being Yourself

Capitalize On Being Yourself 6 Flares 6 Flares Zach  Groth  is a senior at Ball State University. On the post-graduation job search himself,  Zach has job experience in corporate, government, nonprofit and student-run organizations. You can tweet him any questions, concerns or blog ideas on Twitter at @zgroth. Trust your heart if the seas catch fire. Live by love ‘til the stars walk backwards.” -E.E. Cummings It’s about taking chances and knowing that you have to be a raw nerve at this age because there’s nothing to lose. I have an all-American mom and dad and some of the greatest friends to call my own. My golden retriever plays in my fenced-in backyard, and my tree house serves as a summer get-a-way full of childhood memories. Like any good Hoosier, I live in a cornfield. I did not attend some college prep high school that costs as much as college tuition. I attend a large public university and am majoring in public relations and journalism. It goes without saying that I am the most average person that one could imagine. With that being said, at least once a week I am asked, “How do you get these jobs?” or something people say with a hint of shock and attitude like, “What makes you so special?” My response is simple: I’m lucky. Well that’s cool, but really… no one is going to luckily pick your name from a hat and give you an internship or job. I don’t think my average lifestyle is impressive to employers. Why would it be? I don’t go to an Ivy League school; I haven’t traveled around the world or really do anything noteworthy for that matter. Frankly though, I have two internships I have completed in college so far that are pretty selective, and had four more than only build my résumé. My first internship was after my freshman year of college. Two days after school let out for the summer, my dad and I drove to Capitol Hill so I could begin working for the United States Senate. My position entailed walking senators, politicians and their guests around the Capitolâ€"as well as working with media and technology to get a better understanding of the “behind the scenes” at Capitol Hill. In essence, I had one of the more sought after Capitol Hill experiences. This is an experience that two congressional interns had the opportunity to complete. In September of 2011, Red Frog Events (RFE) visited Ball State’s Career Fair, and I was immediately captivated. I applied and was offered a summer “tadpole” position. On May 14, 2012, I walked into Camp Red Frog and was told that more than 25,000 “tadpole-hopefuls” applied for one of the 150 positions available. This was a rollercoaster of an experience where my duties changed daily. I’ve been the assistant program director at one of the most elite youth camps in the world and been published on five continents after writing about horse races at Hoosier Park Racing Casino. I’ve helped execute an award-winning special needs program at Ball State University’s Prism Project and directed a team of six at the only accredited student-run creative communication agency through Cardinal Communciations. I’ve been around the block. Now this may seem contradictive to what I previously said; after reading that, how could I proclaim that I am average? Because I’m not. When I applied to be a congressional intern, my uniqueness came from being young, not Ivy-educated, inexperienced and fresh. Everything that made me “average” actually made me unique. From there I use what experiences I have to advance and experience more. I didn’t hide from applying. You see, I capitalized on myself. I “threw what I knew.” I didn’t fill my interview with what employers wanted to hear. I told them exactly who I am. I shared what I had to offer, what I’ve done and why my passion is something unparalleled in their pool of applicants in a creative and personable way. It is so hard to be someone or something you’re not I’ve tried. My mountain of rejection letters proves that doesn’t work. There is nothing more annoying than telling someone about my experiences and having them say, “Oh, well I can never do that.” Why? Why can’t you tell people why you are extraordinary? That’s not an excuse for me. It’s never been an excuse. I’m not afraid of telling employers that I want more than anything to work for them. If you have one shot to impress someone don’t hold back. You’ll regret it if you do. Employers know, as college students, we have much to learn and experience. It’s not about being the best at all times. It’s about knowing what you do the best and knowing how to talk about that in a confident, not arrogant, manner. Know yourself. Capitalize on yourself. No one else is going to work harder for you than yourself. Finally, if you ever think that you’re too “normal” to get that dream internship or job, call me, and I’ll tell you the full story of how a scrub from the suburbs of Indianapolis made it work for him.

Cracking the networking CODE by Dean Lindsay -

Cracking the networking CODE by Dean Lindsay - I cant seem to talk enough about networking. Maybe its because most jobs are found via networking and job seekers MUST empower themselves with good information and techniques (in addition to great job search materials) in order to successfully land a targeted position. Most of my clients ask, How can I network well? What steps should I take? Dean Lindsays book: A Progress Agents Guide to Cracking the Networking Code 4 steps to Priceless Business Relationships, offers a lot of terrific ideas for all job seekers and careerists, as well as entrepreneurs and anyone hoping to succeed in business. I love acronyms(what would we do without STAR and PAR stories for interviewing?) The title of Deans book incorporates a crucial acronym. CODE stands for: C: Create Personal Curb Appeal Effective networkers feel successful and display a genuine desire to help others progress. They look and act the part of someone with whom you would want to have in your corner. O: Open Face-to-Face Relationships Effective networkers research the various networking options and commit to a networking strategy. They get out and about and reach out. They open relationships. D: Deliver Solid First Impressions Effective networkers know the first impression sets the foundation for all future impressions and make sure it is a good one. E: Earn Trust Effective networkers follow-up and keep in touch. They stay involved with the people they meet and earn their trust through a series of progress based impressions. They continually find ways to help. This is where most ineffective networkers drop the ball. Dean acknowledges most peoples perceptions of networking as something manipulative or excessively self-serving. He goes on to explain how those are misperceptions of networking and convinces the reader that networking is about relationship building. His assertion that people we meet should ideally view us as offering progress, not change is an interesting and perceptive point! Lets face it, when we hope to engage in a relationship with someone, most of the time we arent looking to make a change in our lives. Dean notes, It is natural to resist change but we embrace progress (p. 26). If you genuinely want to understand and help fulfill the needs of others, a key factor for networking success, Dean offers a step-by-step guide to help readers Be progress. I love the messages in this book: Dont make networking more complicated than it needs to be (p. 47). You make a much more powerful impression, a much more memorable impression being interested in others rather than trying to be interesting to others (p. 95). But Dean doesnt just offer quotes and platitudes he shows readers what they can do to become successful at networking. If youve been uncomfortable or hesitant in your in-person networking, this is a great book to give your plans a jump start. I hope youll enjoy reading it as much as I have! Its your lucky dayDean is giving away several copies of his book to my readers. All you need to do is share a brief comment or story below about networking. Do you have a success story? Or, tell us what makes networking difficult for you. At the end of the week, Ill randomly choose several winners. (Be sure to give a correct email address so I can notify you.) Feel free to enter at each of my blogs to increase your chances of winning: Examiner GreatPlaceJobs Secrets of the Job Hunt Need more help to get your job search running? Contact me for advice and coaching to get your career in gear!